Andrew Flintoff: 'England should pick Ben Stokes'

Andrew Flintoff has encouraged England to pick Ben Stokes to fill the number six spot in the batting order for The Ashes.

Durham all-rounder Stokes is yet to make his Test debut for England but Flintoff believes that the decision to play the 22-year-old should be an easy one for the tourists.

"I'd play him, I'd have him in the team," the former England captain told Sky Sports News. "He can bowl at 90mph and can bat at six, it's a no-brainer for me.

"Over there the bowlers have to earn their wickets and just having that other seamer who can bowl to give Jimmy (James Anderson) a rest, give [Stuart] Broad a rest and whoever the other one may be is invaluable.

"And he can bat, I'd get him in straight away."

Stokes is expected to be in competition with Gary Ballance and Jonny Bairstow for the final batting spot.